Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to return to X Factor?

17 July 2016

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will reportedly be a guest mentor on the next series of 'The X Factor'.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini

ITV bosses are keen to have the former Girls Aloud singer, who quit the show as a judge to write her new album, back on board and it's believed she's being lined up to join Simon Cowell in the judges houses.

A source told the Daily Star on Sunday: "Both Cowell and ITV bosses are in agreement Cheryl would be the perfect person to help him pick his finalists. Everyone knows how well Cheryl and Simon work together on and off screen.

"Cheryl also has a proven track history mentoring the girls as a judge, she's still incredibly popular with fans and it would keep her within the X Factor family despite her quitting."

The news won't be a huge surprise, since the show is close to Cheryl's heart and she left on good terms.

Announcing her exit, she said: "I have had such an amazing experience being a judge on 'The X Factor'. I have learnt so much and enjoyed nurturing talent but I've missed making music and am excited to be recording again. I want to thank everybody I have worked with along the way, especially Simon who I love to bits. I hope the show continues to produce stars and I wish them all the best."

Whilst Simon sung her praises too and teased it wouldn't be long before they worked together again.

He said: "Cheryl and myself spoke about this. I totally understand her commitment to making more records. She has been amazing on the show and in the near future we will be working on other things together."

Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger replaced Cheryl, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw who all walked this year.

But Cheryl is the only judge from last year's line up to feature in a teaser trailer for the next series, which also saw the likes of former judge Tulisa, guest judge Katy Perry, JLS, Rylan Clark-Neal, Leona Lewis, Big Brother's Ryan Ruckledge, Marcus Collins and One Direction, and a string of bad auditions feature, fuelling speculation the shows will see the return of a number of stars.